Limitations in the operation of the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems significantly complicate operations to shoot down drones, and intelligence from the US regarding Russian ballistic attacks comes a minute before the strike, or is not provided at all.
Limitations in the operation of the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems significantly complicate operations to shoot down drones, and intelligence from the US regarding Russian ballistic attacks comes a minute before the strike, or is not provided at all.
This was stated by military radio technology expert and presidential advisor Sergei "Flash" Beskrestnov in an interview with the BBC. According to him, although the general exchange of intelligence between the countries continues, critical disruptions have occurred precisely in the air threat warning component.
Beskrestnov told the BBC that American intelligence continues to provide incomplete and contradictory information, and the US has never provided a clear explanation on this issue.
"It looks very strange. Sometimes we get this information before the attack, and sometimes we don't. For example, last night we got this warning, but a minute before the attack," noted Serhiy "Flash."
In addition to the problem with radar data, restrictions on satellite internet continue. Last week, the Starshield military network artificially limited the speed of connected mobile terminals to 160 km/h. This directly affected the ability of mobile fire groups to intercept enemy drones and limited the ability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to launch their own strike drones into Russian-occupied territories.
"A significant part of the regular Shaheds are shot down by our helicopters. Helicopters fly faster than 160 km/h. The Starshield speed limit affected an important information transmission channel to combat helicopters," the expert added in his Telegram channel.
The information and technical disruptions came amid a worsening of relations between Ukraine and the Donald Trump administration over the recent dispute over the so-called diesel deal. While the White House officially denies any changes in intelligence-sharing policy, Trump himself responded to reporters' questions that the US "gave Ukraine a lot, and they gave nothing."
Despite Volodymyr Zelensky's statements about the resumption of cooperation after a recent pause, American systems remain a critically important source for detecting ballistic missile launches from Russian territory.
